Sarah Jones contributes to:

Comments (12)

I didn't say that we would be the best, I said we were trying to be the best we could be, in quite difficult circumstances. And I think being a mature student has nothing to do with it. I applied for degree and diploma courses because I wanted to be a nurse, not because I wanted to go to university. It just happened that I got offered a place on a degree course in an area that I believed to be the best fit for me. I have just as much empathy and compassion as some of the more mature students on my course, and I would happily say that this is evident across the cohort. It doesn't matter how old you are, you either have empathy or you don't.
Imagine how it feels to be trying your best whilst training and hearing comments like yours? It is so disheartening. That is why I was praising the Student Nursing Times Awards, because for once, we weren't being spoken down to, we were recognised. There is, of course, a problem with our training, but that is a problem with the system in general, not with the individuals. And instead of moaning about it, do your best to teach the students these skills. I value my placements so much because I learn so much more on the wards than I do in theory, but I have always worked with people who recognise that teaching is a part of nursing. I would also like to say that my first placement was with the District Nurses, and I absolutely loved it. The skills I learnt there are ones that I will carry for the rest of my career.I was never made to feel like I was extra work and I did as much to help as I could. This was meant to be an article praising students, so please don't be so negative.

It's very easy to be rude when you're posting anonymously on a message board.The vast majority of posts have a cynical edge, one that is not necessary. Laura has stated that caremakers do not receive any extra benefits, that it is not a role superior to that of nursing, and that in no way will care-makers go around wards telling people off. They are simply there to champion nursing, and the amazing things that we ALL do to the public.
I'm a student, and I probably am very naive, but I what strikes me, especially on this forum, is the divide there seems to be between 'old' nurses and 'new' nurses, with many older nurses treating us with disrespect, and being extremely patronising (read the comments directed at Laura if you want evidence of this). We are all nurses, we are all trying to do the same thing, so why aren't we all working together and supporting each other, rather than splitting into tribes. When I qualify, I realise that I will still have a lot to learn from more experience nurses and I will embrace that. But my mother, who has been a nurse for over 30 years, still found that she could learn something from me.